Manchester City defender Nathan Ake was stretchered off in tears during the Netherlands’ Nations League match against Germany, sparking major concerns for City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
The 29-year-old defender appeared to suffer a non-contact injury in the final moments of the first half at the Johan Cruyff Arena. A visibly emotional Ake was helped off the pitch by Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before being attended to by the Dutch medical team.
For Guardiola and City fans, Ake’s injury comes at a particularly bad time, with the club set to face Brentford in the Premier League this weekend, followed by their Champions League opener against Inter Milan.
Ake, who has made just two substitute appearances this season—against Manchester United and West Ham United—was returning to action after an extended summer break, having reached the semi-finals of the European Championships with the Netherlands. Despite limited minutes so far this season, Ake has been a key player for City since his arrival from Bournemouth four years ago, amassing over 100 appearances during his time at the club.
City’s upcoming schedule is packed with crucial matches, including Premier League showdowns against Arsenal, Newcastle, and Fulham, all before the October international break. Guardiola will be hoping that Ake’s injury is not as serious as it appeared, with the club needing all hands on deck for this critical period.
